Messiah Movers

Barry Randolph, Pastor

A life long Detroiter, Barry Randolph was born and raised on the lower-east side of Detroit. He is a graduate of Martin Luther King High School and attended Wayne State University. With a background in business he was the co-owner of a distribution company, health food store, and a fine dinning restaurant in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Feeling something missing in his life in the early 1990’s he started attending Church of the Messiah. Here he found his true niche. Hs started off as a volunteer tutor in the after-school program. Then he became the Sunday school teacher, then youth director, then worship leader, and in 2002 became the priest and pastor of Church of the Messiah. Under his leadership the congregation has grown from 41 members in 2002 to nearly 200 member today. Most of these new members are African-American males between the ages of 16 to 30.

Rev. Randolph is also the executive director of the B.L.V.D. Harambee. BLVD Harambee stands for building Leaders for village development. Blvd Harambee is the social services arm of Church of the Messiah. Programs under Harambee include the senior food pantry where 150 seniors are fed every week. Fitness and nutrition provides nutrition and aerobic classes three times a week. Bound Together Detroit is an after-school program for elementary school age children. Ray of Hope is a tutor and computer based program for middle and high school children. All programs are free to the public.

Rev. Barry Randolph is also a board member of Church of the Messiah Housing Corporation. Messiah Housing provides decent and affordable housing to the city of Detroit. Messiah currently has 203 units of housing, which provides housing to nearly 400 residents. Messiah Housing is one of the oldest community development corporations in the country. Over the past 32 years, Church of the Messiah Housing Corporation has invested over fifty million dollars in the Islandview Village neighborhoods and the city of Detroit.

After the theft of a six foot tall green tinted Jesus off the side of Church of the Messiah, Rev. Randolph co-founded Citizens United For Safety (C.U.F.S).Citizens United For Safety is a grassroots organization that brings together local government, law enforcement, business leaders, religious organizations, and the average citizen to combat crime and foster pride in the neighborhoods. CUFS has become a major force recognized in the city and suburbs for crime prevention. Last year CUFS launched “Fallen Angels”. Fallen Angels honors individuals who have died of a violent crime, or people who have been a victim of a violent crime. Fallen Angels is the kick off of Angels Night.

For the past three years Rev. Randolph has spear headed “ Grow Town”, Church of the Messiah’s urban garden’s. Grow town teaches farming in the city. The program is inner-generational, with the focus on youth unemployment. Participants learn about planting crops, marketing, selling, and the management of farming.

Currently Rev. Barry Randolph is not only pastor of Church of the Messiah, Executive Director of BLVD Harambee, housing board member, founder of Citizens United For Safety, and grow town, he is a community activist in the city of Detroit. Thanks to all of the hard work of Rev. Barry Randolph and Church of the Messiah, Church of the Messiah will be featured in the forth coming documentary “Lemonade Detroit”. This documentary features positive stories about the re-invention of the city of Detroit.

Peter Klein, Pastor

John (Peter) Klein was born on July 6 , 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Walter Klein, was an Episcopal priest and his mother, Helene, a Latin and English teacher. Walter eventually became Professor of Old Testament and Sematic languages at Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Evanstion, Illnois. He then became the Dean of Nashotah House Seminary in Nashotah, Wisconsin, and finally Bishop of Northtern Indiana. All of this religious influence did not keep young John from questioning his faith and leaving the church at the age of 18. At age 28, after experiencing avocational and financial crisis (he was jobless and broke), he went to St. Gregory’s Abby, an Episcopal Benedictine monastery in Three Rivers, Michigan, for counseling. There he had a strong encounter with God, was baptized in the Holy Spirit, joined the monestary and became Brother Peter. After four years, it became evident that the celibate, monastic life was not for him.

In 1975, keeping the name Peter, he left the monastary and joined the Christian community at Church of the Messiah in Detroit. He lived in several households and taught kindergarten and first grade at the Messiah Learning Center for ten years until the school and the formal community dissolved in 1986. In 1978, he persuaded Jean Springer who also taught at the school to marry him. They had three daughters, Rebecca, Laura, and Melissa.

In 1986, Peter became the administrator and sexton at Church of the Messiah. When the church could no longer afford to pay him, he became office manager at WARM Training Center, a non-profit that at one time created work-owned cooperative businesses, but is now primarily an energy education for low income people, energy audits, weatherization, workforce development and various green building projects. Peter remained a member of Church of the Messiah, joined the Vestry and eventually became secretary and senior warden. When Messiah decided to embrace total ministry, Peter was selected to train for the priesthood. He was ordained in 2002 and continues to work at WARM Training Center. He continues to serve the church mainly as celebrant at the first service on Sundays. His chief joy is spending time with his grand-daughter Rene, who is only three years old and can tell you exactly what she wants, and can usually get it from her grandfather.

Wally Gilbert, Assistant Pastor

Rev. Wallace A. Gilbert Jr., Assistant Pastor “Church of the Messiah” is a dedicated, goal-focused leader offering blended experience and training in administration, team supervision, negotiations, and problem-solving in diverse environments. Wallace has exhibited the ability to apply high-caliber organizational skills and visionary planning to design cutting-edge ministry, coordinate multi-tasked projects, and manage resources for maximum value. Wallace is a strong communicator; capable of creating unity across diverse groups, building cohesive teams, strengthening relationships at all levels, and a commitment to excellence in every endeavor.

Wallace has a well-developed sense of urban ministry, clearly understanding the need to develop individuals truly committed to the cause of Christ.

Wallace has held several high-profile positions, one in particular Assistant Director of Enhanced 911 Operations (Ameritech) responsible for all PSAP’s (Public Safety Answering Positions) in the State of Michigan and Northern Ohio. In addition, Wallace has also held positions as Vice President of Operations (GlobalView Clover Technologies), President / CEO Gilbert Consulting Inc. (Information Technology Network Infrastructure Design).

Education:

Mumford High School

Lewis College of Business – Associates (Data Processing)

ITT – Telephony and Electronics Engineering

Urban Bible Institute – Biblical Studies (Old Testament)

William Tyndale College – BA (Pastoral Studies)

Villanova University – Essentials of Project Management

Ashland Theological Seminary – MA (Practical Theology)

Wallace has held several positions and completed several technical training programs both in the spiritual and secular community.

Tamika Hamilton, Senior Warden

Tamika Hamilton became a member of Church of the Messiah in 2005 largely due to the outreach that Messiah was doing in the community, and wanted to play a role in the work that was being accomplished. Tamika was nominated to the Vestry board (Board of Directors) in 2008, and then to the position of Senior Warden (President of the Board of Directors) June 2009. In 2012, Tamika was nominated to be a trustee for the Episcopal Church of Michigan and served a term of 2 years as a trustee.

While serving 12 years of active duty in Navy as a medical technician, Tamika received her Bachelors in Health Administration in 2003, and her Masters of Business in 2006. Tamika is the Owner and founder of Randolph & Hamilton Customer Service Consulting Firm, LLC, which provides a holistic approach to teaching individuals how to provide amazing customer by first helping the individual identify the greatness within themselves, and then spilling that greatness on to the customers that they serve and the organization that employs them. Her military background and business acumen has served Messiah well in the reorganization process.

Veronica Randolph, Parish Administrator

Veronica Randolph is the Parish Administrator & Pastoral Care Director for Church of the Messiah. She was born and raised on the east-side of Detroit. She is both a community liaison and advocate for the poor. She graduated from Martin Luther King, Jr. high school, and from of Wayne State of University and has a degree in Social work. For Veronica, managing the day to day to operations of an Inner city Church is not easy, but it is very REWARDING.

This native Detroiter is no stranger to faith and perseverance, neither is she a stranger to harda work. As administrator, she is faced with many challenges and obstacles in order to fulfill her calling. As Pastoral Care Director, her role is to help spiritually guide and empower and people from all walks of life. Therefore, empowerment is one of the goals needed in order to teach people about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Veronica is an excellent problem-solver which is needed in order to serve in any capacity at Church of the Messiah. It is something that is “God Given”. As any leader in Inner-city ministry knows, “You never know what you are going to face on any given day”. Veronica believes that all things should be done with excellence when it comes to serving our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. So whether it is problem-solving, writing checks, keeping financial statements in order, screening calls, praying for people, negotiating service contracts or simply dealing with the challenges of the day, service is the main ingredient.

Veronica lives and work in the Island-view village community and has done so for over 25 years. She works hard to live up to the motto of Church of the Messiah. “If the Mission is right, the Odds don’t matter”

We need your support!

As you all well know, Church of the Messiah is a church that serves and cares for the least of these in our congregation which is made up of 60 % African American male under the age of 30. This is no easy feat since we are facing serious issues with our 130-year building (leaking and damaged roof, water damage to the entire basement and 130-year-old plumbing), as well as astronomical utility bills and operating expenses totaling well over $8,000 monthly, which we NEVER bring in. This is where we need your help. We are looking for at least 50 financial partners who are bold and committed enough to donate $100 a month (or more) FOR at least 1 YEAR!

Your monthly donation will help Messiah to continue providing programing and services that empower and improve our community. Listed below are just a few of the programs and services that we provide:

Church of the Messiah Housing with 213 units of housing in the Island view neighborhood.

Share Network is our employment office through Michigan Works.

F.I.R.E. Marching Band and Cheer Leading Team.

Messiah Empowerment Bike Shop- this a full line bike repair shop for the community.

Aim High Mentorship Program

Citizens United for Safety (C.U.F.S.)-Community Eyes and Ears.

Five Alive-Community Organizing for social issues.

I AM Media Productions (videography, job interviews)

Again, you can help Messiah to continue to help “The least of these” by partnering with us! Here are 2 effortless ways to give:

1. Click the link at the bottom of this page

2. Mail it in: Church of the Messiah-231 East Grand Blvd, Detroit MI, 48214